Mounting and let off for beams of looms



Nov. 17, 1931. R, KRENZ 1,832,310

MOUNTING AND LET-OFF FOR BEAMS OF LOOMS Filed Oct. 24. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheer l Nov. 17, 1931. R. KRENZ 1,832,310

MOUNTING AND LET-OFF FOR BEAMS OF LOOMS Filed Oct. 24, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 17, 1931 warren sT-ATss RUDOLPH KRENZ, 0F BUFFALO, NEwYoR ASSIGNOR To, UFFALoWEA me up r PATENT ppm;

BELTING COMPANY, OF BUFFALQ NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF, NEW. YORK,

r MOUNTING AND" LET oFF Fen :enaius 0F Looms Application filed October 24, 1929. SeriaINo. 402,040.

This invention'relates to a mounting and let off for the beams of looms or the like and more particularly to a means for supporting the warp beams upon the beam rack of-a loom and a let off for each beam which is regulated by the tension of the warp thread and permits the beam to pay otl when the warp thread is drawn taut but applies a brake t0 the beam when the tension is released. By this means the warp threads are heldat a constant tension which is requisitein weav One of the principal objects'of this inven tion is to provide a mounting for beams upon a beam rack which permits the ready removal and replacement of the beams thereon and which reliably holds the beams upon the beam rack while the loom is in operation;

A further aim is to provide such amounting in which the beam supporting members are adjustable upon the beam rack so that' they can be moved closer together or farther apart as the size of the beams may require, and also to provide such 'beamsupporting members, each of which is arranged'to sup-, port the opposing ends of the axles of two adjacent beams, thereby reducing the number of suchsupports and providing a more compact beam rack. f

Another object is to provide a simple and effective brake for each beam, each of which brakes is responsive'to the tension, of the warp thread being payed out by the beam and operates to release the beam when a pred'es termined tension is applied to the warp, and

to stop the beam when the tension is released.

By this means the beam is prevented from overrunning and a constant tension on each warp thread is maintained. 7

A further object is to provide such'an inde pendent individual brake mechanism for each beam in which the brake mechanisms are sup ported on slides which permit their ready adjustment to the associatedbeam and in which the brake mechanisms are so mounted as to be readily removable from the beam rack.

Another purpose is to provide such anrin 'dividual brake for each beam whlch is simplein construction and has but few movingparts;

and will operate reliably and continuously,

maintain" the desired tension on thewarp threads r p x Another aim is to provide such a structure in which the counterbalancing weights are arrangedout of the way and do not interfere with the free access to the beamsuponthe beamrack; a v r Y In'the accompanying drawings h I I Figure l is a fragmentary rear elevation of a beam rack having beams mounted thereon in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation'thereof. Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a beam supported on a beam rack intacw cordance with my invention. Figure l-is a fragmentary section taken on line4 4ofFig.-l.' 7 i Figure 5 is a top plan view of the braking mechanism associated with each beam.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken on line 66 of Fig. 5. I l

Similar reference numerals refer to like parts in each view.

In its general organization this invention, comprises a beam rack composed of a plu-' rality of spaced parallel bars, slides adjustably fixed on said bars and formed to protween the beam supporting slides, and a brake mechanism removably carried in the halfbearings of the last named slides, each of said brakemechanisms'acting on its associated.

beam and comprising a brake member or arm pivotally mounted between its ends, the rear'.

end ofsaid brake member being adapted to engage the under side of said beam and the front'end thereof havin'g'a rounded surface,

a second armor U-shaped member pivotally carried below the brake member the rear'endf of each U-shaped member being normally elevated by counterweights arrangedat the top of the beam rack and the front rendof each U-shaped member carrying a roller and a;

stationary 'arm projecting outwardly from eachrof the brake mechanism carry ng slides of a predetermined tension to said thread, the

front :endJof-isaid' QU-shaped member .isjraised and engages and raises the front end of the,

brake arm to release the beam. V

The beam rack ca-n' beofany suitable form and -is-shown-asconsisting of a plurality of spaced parallel vertical bars 10 which are rectangular in cross section and are connected at their lower ends to a cross angle-bar-lliand; at their upper ends to a cross angle bar 12.

iT heklower cross' bar:11;ca-n be supported in anyssuitablemanner-as on standards l3and the upper cross angle bar 12 is connected to 0116501! more longitudinal bars let. These longitudinal. bars 11% extend: rearwardly and-are securedzatitheir rear ends to a suitable frame work: 15 andzaalso carry. across rod. 16, this cross rod 16 carrying the counterweightsfor the several: beam; braking devices .as hereinafter'described.

The beams:lTare-mounted in the beam rack between the several vertical; supporting bars, thezbeams vbeing arranged -in vertical and a horizontal .rows I asindicated in Fig; 1. Thei number iofbeams carried by the beam rack will depend, of course-on thesize ofthe beam rackiandithesize of. the beams, the number of beams depending uponithe number of warp threads inv the.article Y being woven. Each beam consists of aspool l8 on-which a warp thread 19 I is .wound-, and: the spool is provided with an axle 20 which projects outwardly therefrom. .e

The supports 21 for the beam's'1Lareslid-' inglya-mounte'd on the vertical bars 10150 as to begad justable to-different vertical positions thereon and for this purpose. each-support consists of.-a ;slide,22 having a vertical slide- Way -23 reextending ttherethrongh which receivesx the vertical barilO and a A set screw 2.4 which ,is arrangedin the front; side of; the slide-and engages the front edgeof the bar 10.1 Bythis-:meanstheslid-e.22;is moved to its .proper; position and theset screw 24 tight-' ened tov hold it there;

iOn-itsrrearlside the1slide1 22 is formedto provide.)aerearwardly; facing. half bearing 25' the flower '2 part .of which is -extended rearwardlytoforma shaft 26. This half bearing.

alsolextends laterally outward fromthesides ofigthev-slides and; is radaptedtto; receive the 9PPosirigi-ends of the ax-lez-i20 of two adacent-beams l7, as;best:Shownim-Figd. In

order to retainthese; axles in their ha'] f bearings a; pair of catches-527 are pivotedonope positesldes'of the {slides 22, the rear zen dsof these catches falling; by 1 gravityupon'; the shelf. ;26.in-rrearof therhal-flbearingJ25' so that ithe f-a-xles '20 :of-the "beams cannot; roll: l out. of theabearings. 1 :The'npward movement of each catch is preferably limited by a stop pin 28. It is apparent that the horizontal rows of beams are vertically adjustable to suitthe size of the beams by loosening the set screws 24 of the several slides 22 and moving the slides accordingly. Each slide 22' also supports the ends oftwo beams and each beam is also readily removed by lifting the two catches 27 which hold the opposite ends of its axleand moving the beam rearslides 29 carriesa forwardly extending arn'r 31-which is preferably formedintegrally with the slide and at their front ends these arms 31.0a1ry a cross rod '32, the cross'rod extendin the full widthofthe beam rack. Eachslide 29isalso formedon its opposite sides r-totprovide' forwardly facing half bear? ings 33 and the shafts 8+L ca-rrie'd these half bearings aregheldein position by pins 35, as best-.shown-in Fig. 4. These-shafts 34 extend between the opposing half bearings of twocorrespondingslides 29 and each shaft is disposed immediatelybelowone ofthe beams 17 On. thisshaft is the brake member or arm whichacts upon the beam :abovethe same.-

Thisbrake member or arm includes a pair of-bearings36 on the shaft 34 and'from these bear ings,36,1arms 37 project forwardly. The front ends of these arms 37 are connected by an. integrally formed cross piece 38which is preferably rounded so that the warp thread 19: rides around the same freely. The warp threadiskeptfrom riding off this rounded part38 byapair ofipins'39. One of the bearings 36 is also for-med toprovidea short rearwardly projecting arm .fO-iW-lliClI is arranged inclose proximity to; theperiphery or adjacentsideiflangeof the beam and is provided with a slot in whichis arranged a piece ofisteel .41 orthelike, Thissteel is arranged to be-moved into contact with-the beam and brake its movement. r o

"The bearings 36 are also formed to provide hangers ordepending arms 42-which carry a secon-d'cross rod 43' Ont iis rod a U-shaped hprizont'al bracket or arm 4L is, mounted for rocking movement, this bracket or arm preferably consisting- 0f a cross piece-455 and integrallyformediarms orilegs 46 "which are mounted intermediate theirend on the cross thread to let off.

'rod43 and at their front ends carryea cross roller 47. This roller can bemounted .on a cross pin 48 or in any-other suitable manner. Between each of the stationary arms 31', a similar roller 49 is mountedflonthe. cross rod 32 which, as previously described,runs

' the full width of, the beam rack. The arms or legs 46 of the rocking'bracket or arm 44 also are formed at their front ends to provide shoulders'50 which, when thefront end of the bracke 44 is rocked upwardly, engage the under sides of the arms 37 of the brake to release the brake.

Suitably attached to the rear ends of each of the brackets 44 is a counterweight rod 51. This rod can be attached to a screw 52 on either side of the bracket, as shown in Fi 3, or as shown in the case of the central beam in Figs. 1 and 2, it can be bent around the cross piece of the bracket. Each of these counterweight rods extends upwardly and is connected to the rear end of a separate rock lever 53, these rock levers 53 being carried by the upper cross rod 16. A counterweight holder 54 is secured to the opposite end of each of these rock arms 53 and on this holder a suitable number of removable counterweights 55 are removably carried. By the provision of a separate rod 51, rock lever 53 and counterweight 55 for each beam brake mechanism, each operates entirely independent of the others and independently maintains the tension on each thread.

lVith a beam rack, beams and braking sponding roller 47, over the stationary roller 49 and thence passes to the loom in any suitable manner. When there is no great tension 011 the warp thread, the counterweights 55, through the rock lever 58 and counterweight rod 51 holds the rear end of the bracket or arm 44 elevated and the front end thereof depressed. In this position, the preponderating brake member or arm holds the rear end or arm 40 thereof elevated and in engagement with the beam, thereby holding the beam against movement. hen. however. a tension is applied to the warp thread 19 suicient to overcome the counterweights 55, the thread, passing under the roller 47, elevates the front end of the U-shaped member or arm 44 and moves its shoulder into engagement with the front end of the brake member. This upward movement of the brake member depresses its rear end or arm 40, thereby releasing the beam and permitting the warp As soon as the tension'on the warp thread is released, the counterweights again restore the brake to its normal braking or operative condition.

It is apparent that this let off device is very sensitive and will maintain a predetermined tension on the warp thread of eachbeam at all times, and at thesame time con sists of few parts which are not likely to get out of order so that the braking device will function properly for a long time. Both the braking mechanisms and the beams are also readily removed from the rack and interfering partsare reduced to a minimum, the

counterweights 55, in particular, being suspended inv aposition where they areout oi the way. 7 a

Both-the beams andthe braking mechanisms are also mounted s'o'as to beadjust- .ably positioned on thebeam rack as condireceive the opposing endsof the axles of two beams, a catch pivoted on each side of each slide andhaving a hook shaped end adapted to be arranged in rear of eachhalf'bearing and retain the axles ofthe beams therein,

2. A. device of the character described, comprising a beam rack, a plurality of beams rotatably supported on said beam rack, an upper stationary arm projecting forwardly from said beam rack adjacent each beam, a roller carried at the front end of said stationary arm, a brake levervpivoted at its center b'eloweach beam to a stationary part, the rear endofsaid brake lever being adapted to engage the under side of its associated beam and the front end thereof being. formed to provide a rounded surface, a sec-.

ond arm pivoted at its center below the pivotal mounting of said brake lever, the front end of-said second arm being movable up-- wardly into engagement-with said brake lever to apply the brake lever to its beam, a roller carriedat the front end] of said second arm and gravity means for normally depressing the front end of said second arm, the

thread from said beam first passing oversaidrounded surface, then under theroller on said second arm, and thence over sa1d roller on said stationary arm whereby upon the application of afpredetermined' tension to said tatably mounted in rows between said bars, a

brake member pivotally carried by said bars below each beam, sa1d brake member comprising an arm projecting 'rearvvardly from its pivotal mounting and adapted to engage the under. side of saidbeam, a part -projecting forwardly therefrom; and a horizontal rounded part at the front endof said brake memher; a U-shaped member having forwardly projecting legs pivotallyvmounted on said Vertical bars below said brake member, a roller carried betweenthe ends of said legs and ar ranged'immediately below the rounded part of 'said'brake member, a stationary arm projecting forwardly'from said vertical bars, a stationary roller arranged on said stationary arm above theroller onsaid u-shaped mem- I her, a counterweight rod extending upwardly from the rear end of each U-shaped member, and a counterweight for each counterweight rod, said counterweight being suspended at the upper end of said beam rack and yieldingly elevating therear end of said U-shaped part; said counterweighted U-shaped part normally permitting the front end of 'said brake member to be depressed whereby said brake arm'is applied to said'beam and the thread from said beam passing over said roundedpart, under the roller of said U- shaped. part and over said stationary roller whereby upon application of a predetermined tension to said thread; the front end of said U-shaped part is elevatedandmoves the front beams bQtWGGILSaldibaIS; a second :series of slides arranged between. said beam. supporting: slides, I each iofi'said second slides being formed to provide ahalfbearingpa plurality of brake. meclianismsipivotally supported in said halfbearings and removable therefrom,

each of said brake. mechanisms acting on an end of said brake member to release said brake j ver, and means connecting the thread of each beam-with the associated brake, mechanism whereby upon theapplication ofa predetermined tension to said thread, said brake is released.

5. A device of the character described, in-

cluding a beam rack composed of a plurality of spaced parallel bars, slides carriedby said bars and adapted to rotatably support'the beamsbetweensaid bars, a second series of slides arranged between said beam support- I ing'slides, a plurality of brake-mechanisms carried by said second slides, each of said brake mechanisms acting on an associated beam to maintain a tension on the thread thereof and means for securingsaid slides in any'a djusted position along the said bars.

6. A device of 'thecharacter described, including a beam rack'composed of a plurality of spaced parallel bars, slides carried'by said bars an'd adaptedh-to rotatably support the 

